Three years ago, one of Apple’s prime competitors from the Android side of the pond was the HTC EVO 4G. How times have changed. While Apple and Samsung duke it out at the top of the smartphone heap, HTC’s profits have dropped off the face of the earth. But everyone loves a good comeback story, and HTC is pulling out all the stops with its new flagship, the One. Read on, as we compare it to Apple’s top-selling iPhone 5.
Size
There are bigger phones than the HTC One, but it still follows the recent trend of super-sized Android phones. The iPhone 5, meanwhile, is larger than its predecessors but small compared to the One.
The iPhone may be more comfortable to hold and use with one hand, while the One gives you a larger window into your apps and media.
Weight
The iPhone 5 is about 22 percent lighter than the HTC One. Both devices live in tightly-constructed aluminum bodies.
Display
The One's screen has an extra (diagonal) 0.7 inch of screen real estate, and many more pixels.
Many high-end Android phones in 2013 are going to have 1080p displays, and the One is a card-carrying member of that club. It might be overkill, and – with some handsets – it might lead to crappy battery life. But your eyeballs may ultimately decide that it’s all worthwhile.
Processor
On paper, the One’s Snapdragon 600 chip wins hands-down. Its benchmarks will likely agree. Apple, though, prioritizes experience over specs, and it’s hard to argue that the iPhone 5 doesn’t blaze through iOS and most apps.
RAM
The HTC One also comes out looking good here, with double the iPhone’s 1 GB of RAM.
Storage
HTC skipped a 16 GB option, but otherwise flash memory is even. Neither device supports microSD cards for expandable storage.
Wireless
In regions where it’s available, both phones support LTE networks. This is practically a given with modern high-end handsets (the Nexus 4 is a rare exception).
Battery
The HTC One’s battery holds a lot more juice than the iPhone’s. Take this with grains of salt, though. Many other factors determine uptime, and the One’s battery has to power a display with over a million extra pixels.
Neither phone's battery is removable.
Cameras
Four megapixels doesn’t sound like a lot for the One’s shooter, but they’re what HTC calls “ultrapixels.” There are less of them, but they’re bigger. Combined with its f2.0 aperture and 1/3-inch backlit-CMOS sensor, HTC says the One’s camera will perform better in low light than competing smartphones.
On the software side, HTC’s handset introduces Zoe: a feature that simultaneously takes still-shots and records 1080p video. This gives you a plethora of options – including an animated “Living” image gallery, and the ability to choose the best from several shots.
Software
HTC is emphasizing its custom software skin – Sense – and its intriguing new features. The most memorable part is BlinkFeed, a Flipboard-esque feed reader that sits front and center as a sort of home screen. It’s a bold departure from the standard grid of icons.
Hidden as it may be, the One still runs Android: 4.1.2 Jellybean to be exact (one full version behind Google’s latest major release). Like most Android devices, you’ll get your apps from Google’s Play Store.
The iPhone 5 runs iOS 6 (6.1.2 at the moment), Apple’s newest version of its mobile OS. You get iCloud for (sometimes) easy syncing, the Siri virtual assistant, and – gasp – Apple Maps. Perhaps the biggest highlight, though, is the App Store – with over 750,000 apps and games.
Wrap-up
Here we have two high-end smartphones with premium aluminum builds. The One’s specs come out ahead in many categories, but – at least if you jive with Apple’s philosophy – specs are but means to the end of experience.
No matter how you look at it, these are probably two of the best phones around (or will be – the One launches in mid-March). If you want to hold the magnifying glass to another killer handset, you can check out our comparison of the One with Samsung’s Galaxy S III.
It appears that the clock and the app icons across the bottom steal space.
Is that true??
Bill
Then there is the comment on Apple "...at least if you jive with Apple’s philosophy – specs are but means to the end of experience" yet you seem to downplay the innovation with the camera on the One while simply noting the iPhone specs.
There really is no differentiation in apps stores, both have everything you want/need. This comparison only works when comparing with Windows Phone/BlackBerry.
Lest I be considered just a fandroid, the negative things about the HTC One is that BlinkFeed can never fully be turned off even if removed from the screen and that HTC has a dismal record of updating their phones and customer support after sale.
In conclusion, the HTC One blows the iPhone 5 away and the only reason to go with the iPhone is if you are already invested with that ecosystem or you are recommending this phone to your mom who or friends who would be confused by all the options of Android.
One thing about the weight of the phones, throw that 112 to 143 g advantage out the window. The One feels sturdier and distributing the weight over the larger body really makes holding the One feel like it's lighter. Add that with both these phones, the first thing you do is buy a case that is as close to Otterbox Defender/Armor or Lifeproof protection anyway. So sleek becomes bulkier for both and heavier.
HTC gets a good day and a half before recharging, where as a day for the iPhone and I have to add that the One was being explored and set up for heavy use. And connected to wifi as well.
I have to agree with others, unless Apple comes up with a 5s or 6 that is vastly improved, I see Android really taking over at this point, Samsung & HTC with hardware that is superior in function & elegant beauty. HTC not only hit a home run, but a grand slam with the One.
Software, HTC once again has made their Android version feel every bit as intuitive, simple & clean as Apple claims iOS to have that advantage over the others. Windows 8 might be nice, but I tried HTC's Windows phone out and simply hated the tiles. So for now, for a phone I'll shamelessly plug the Android or iOS over Windows 8 or Blackberry's Z10.
As for video quality, unless these get hooked up to a monitor or tv, 4.7" or less is a miserable video experience. I guess it beats watching nothing ? 7-8" isn't much better, but at least can be done at a coffee shop or airport. And 10" is going to feel like a big screen cinema for these devices. When I attached the 32" 1080p tv I have to the HTC Flyer that was like going to the movie theater and that was far short of the 60-80" tv's.
One thing that wasn't mentioned, the One has Beats, not sure what the audio on the iPhone5 is, but this phone really sounds incredible thru the speakers and earphones. Apple has the base speaker stations, not sure what the One can connect to in that regard ? The HTC's port connection is almost as proprietary as Apples. So look to upgrade accessories for connectivity.
My review/comments are almost as long as the Authors. But I felt an honest opinion is worth the read ? The iPhone has been such a smash hit in terms of sales and that might be too much for consumers to want to make the switch over. I really hope the One is a smash hit, HTC really has had some very high quality Android products.